Sonia Kashuk • Real Beauty • CD/Books/Movies

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*TOP REVIEWER* marthaquest on 4/28/2012 10:45:00 AM more reviews by marthaquest

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Knowing this is out of print, I love this book & would buy it again on ebay if I lost it. SK is a genius as using a few products for maximum result, and this book & CD are lovely reminders that you don't need tons of product to look attractive. This is a nice reminder that less is more, and more beautiful also. I'm consistently amazed at the high quality of SK products; don't understand the high end MU frenzy. Flipping through the pages of this book always gives me good ideas & reminds me that beauty comes from within.

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starablaze on 6/24/2009 7:05:00 PM more reviews by starablaze

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other, Neutral   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Beautiful pages & pictures.
Good information & tips.
Even though I knew a lot already, I still learned a few things.
And the DVD was a nice extra :)
(Copyright 2003)

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*TOP REVIEWER* glossy81 on 8/26/2008 2:38:00 PM more reviews by glossy81

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

it's just okay to me. it didn't teach me anything new.

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*TOP REVIEWER* swirly_whirl85 on 1/15/2008 6:26:00 PM more reviews by swirly_whirl85

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Sonia gives a decent introduction to the confusing world of makeup and beauty in this book, but doesn't go into any real depth. Like Craxfactor said, all the models already have relatively flawless skin to begin with, even the older ladies. Her section on health, fitness and nutrition was quite short and un-informative...everything is mostly common sense that the average person should know (for example: "exercise gives you mental stability". *insert sarcasm: "RealllY??? wow, I had no idea!!") However, my biggest pet peeve was the lack of representation of ethnic and dark-skintoned models throughout the book. This is unexcusable in this day and age.

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*TOP REVIEWER* CraxFactor on 10/21/2007 4:01:00 PM more reviews by CraxFactor

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This is a very basic "user's manual" for makeup application and color selection. The killer app here is the DVD. Sonia is down to earth, upbeat and instructive. She uses her fingers. It's a treat to watch her spend 10 oblivious minutes jabbing cream blush into an increasingly irritated Cindy Crawford's face. The other great part is the models' hair, which is consistently awesome.


There aren't a lot of tricks of the trade here - as others have said, the models are models, and don't really need makeup as much as they need a hamburger. Sonia brags that sometimes she only puts mascara on her clients and it's all they need to really open up the face. Unfortunately if you don't have a star dermatologist, plastic surgeon, waxer, colorist, possibly someone to do a high colonic, etc., you are not going to be able to replicate the "natural" look with your "real" beauty shining through. Even the older ladies she works with have preternaturally good coloring and skin tone. Speaking as someone with bruised-looking eyes, dark circles, veins, rosy cheeks, jaundiced yellow undertones, chapped lips, oily skin, etc. . . eating more fish and exercising will not be enough to make me throw out my concealer. And hearing supermodels and actresses married to wealthy international businessmen define what beauty means to them was just unbearable.


I did like her story about the World Trade Center attack at the end, with her family. It was kind of a crazy reality check after a few hundred pages on lip gloss, etc. But I knew what she meant. All of us felt like emotional refugees after going through the trauma of that attack: walking across the bridge home, trying to call everyone we knew to see if they were still alive, seeing missing person xeroxes in the subway for months afterward. Trying to get on and find meaning in our everyday lives on September 12th. We are blessed to be here. Makeup is frivolous, but it can also be one of the ways we celebrate life and create happiness every day, living it to the fullest. You laugh, but that's how I feel. It makes you appreciate what's really important - being happy in life. Beauty is a powerful force for happiness in the world.

8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

prisha on 12/28/2006 7:22:00 PM more reviews by prisha

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

This was a steal-$2 at a store closing. However, if I'd paid full price, I'd be disappointed. I KNOW I AM IN THE MINORITY HERE. However, I didn't learn anything I didn't know before about makeup application, literally. Beginners or heavy-handed people may certainly learn or be appreciative. My concerns, & I am clearly NOT missing the point: 1)Her models, professional and those simply sitting for the book, were generally quite gorgeous before ANY makeup in the photos. 2) This is QUITE unlike most of us in real life. 3)Most each had several exceptional features (big eyes, great teeth, terrific hair, perfect skin, fab bone structure, etc). 4)Nobody in the book looked ho-hum in their before pix, IMO. 5)I was not personally inspired by seeing how these women could look even better.**I DID ENJOY reading the mini interviews w/ magazine editors, some of the the DVD (though very repetetive), and Sonia's personality in general. 6)Her hair stylist isn't my favorite. I thought Sonia's hair was continually & forcefully butchered-looking (& yes, we have wiry, curly hair in my family), no matter how natural the style was...or how hot & humid it may have been at the photo shoots. 7)The less is more concept is correct to a point, but blanket statements like that are a big problem that can't be applied to everyone. 8)She took sooo long to put on what I thought was everyday makeup, even to illustrate; real-time examples would have been as effective, if not more so. I KNOW I AM IN THE MINORITY; THESE ARE MERELY OPINIONS. I KNOW SHE'S ALSO PROBABLY A SWEETHEART & A GENIUS w/ MAKEUP, A la KEVIN or WAY B.

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*TOP REVIEWER* psychoexgirlfriend on 3/9/2006 2:59:00 AM more reviews by psychoexgirlfriend

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I just got this on sale at my local supermarket (no idea what it's doing there...) for 10 bucks!

This is a good book for beginners and people who just want a little help with makeup. It's nothing revolutionary (like Kevyn Aucoin's books) but very good at covering the basics. Real makeup that you'd wear everyday.

The best thing about this book is the accompanying dvd. You can read about application all you want, but if you're a visual person like me, this is were you do most of your learning. There was an "ah!" moment for me when she put on the eye makeup.

My biggest qualms about this book are first that there's a complete lack of Asian models. Being that I'm Vietnamese, it's hard to do my eye makeup especially. I wish she got into that more. Of course, this part doesn't really apply to anyone who isn't Asian. Next, I find the "real" beauty prep talk a little condescending and cheesy.

Overall, great book! Worth it for the dvd alone (then again, I only paid ten bucks...)

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mtait on 7/14/2005 9:33:00 AM more reviews by mtait

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I love this book, especially because of the accompanying DVD. Sonia's tips have made such a difference for me. The book is easy to follow and understand, and I like Sonia's attitude toward makeup and beauty.

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*TOP REVIEWER* AngelZoe on 7/4/2005 2:44:00 PM more reviews by AngelZoe

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

One of my favorites of the beauty book genre. Great photos. Real world advice. The CD ROM is a great addition. Very down to earth energy in this book. Love it! I also love that Sonia decided that all women deserve a chance to wear good makeup - not just those with huge budgets. Right on, Sonia! You're my hero!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Mirtilla on 4/28/2005 7:41:00 AM more reviews by Mirtilla

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I collect make-up books and "Real beauty" is one of my favourites. It's an excellent book/dvd combination and Sonia's makeup is real in any way. She goes step by step on how to apply concealer, foundation, powder, lipstick, eyeshadow and blush. Very helpful, give it a try!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* vanbergc on 4/20/2005 9:58:00 PM more reviews by vanbergc

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

What a fun, informative book and video! Learned a lot.

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*TOP REVIEWER* JaneWayne on 3/22/2005 12:33:00 AM more reviews by JaneWayne

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This book is wonderful! It covers applications, skincare, nutrition, and encourages people to embrace who they are, wrinkles and all. I just love it when a makeup artist enhances natural beauty (using all sorts of colors), and doesn't make people feel like they have to wear a mask in order to be pretty. She rocks.

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*TOP REVIEWER* uplate6674 on 10/19/2004 10:23:00 PM more reviews by uplate6674

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I love this. Love it. The book is good, the DVD is superb. Not only does Ms. Kashuk show you step-by-step MU applications, she does it with such a down-to-earth, friendly, and encouraging manner. Her philosophy of using MU to bring out a woman's beauty rather than piling it on for effects seems similar to Bobbi Brown's on the surface, but her execution is so much more flexible and relaxed. There are no Kevyn Aucoin-like transformations here, but there are plenty of examples of women made gorgeous with a few simple techniques here and there. She uses her own products but isn't obnoxious about pushing them - she'll give the name, but she'll also describe the color in generic terms so that you can use what you have on hand. I especially loved the eye MU section of the DVD. None of the looks required more than a few products (indeed, one used only one e/s color and black mascara; another used only a black eye pencil), but they subtly brought out the eyes in different ways. And I must mention that I *finally* know what people mean when they say they applied e/s to the "outer V" of the eye thanks to Sonia's step-by-step demonstration. This is terrific and I highly recommend it.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

lolo on 8/4/2004 3:00:00 AM more reviews by lolo

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Well, after swapping this away for KA Making Faces, I really miss SK Real Beauty. Real Beauty is a great book for makeup starters and SK seems so nice and relaxed in DVD. It may be very foolish for me to compare a book aimed for beginners to Making Faces, but I prefer RB because, well, it's all about for everyday real life unpretentious looks. Also, SK devotes time and pages for blushes, while KA used a half page. Blushes deserve more respect than that!

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fuzzball on 4/27/2004 8:43:00 PM more reviews by fuzzball

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I just checked this out from my public library [woohoo!] and it was very informative. SK is laid-back but thorough. The DVD was great too, it was more "realistic" having shown the models sans makeup. Still, the models are all stunning and have mostly perfect skin. It left me with a few questions though. I would like to know what the consistency of the concealer and foundation she uses is; otherwise, it's hard to know how her advice applies if the products you're using are different.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* 3blindmice on 4/11/2004 6:48:00 PM more reviews by 3blindmice

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal   Hair: Black   Eyes: Hazel    

I think this book is great!! Whomever came up with the idea to include a DVD with the book is just a genius! I hope that all makeup artist lines take note of this and include a DVD with their next books. I was so so excited to watch the DVD that I didn't even read the book until weeks later, but I love it all. The book has great colour photos on each page with tons and tons of makeup tips and techniques. I love Sonia's simple approach to makeup, and all the looks in the book are just great. Anyway, this is a great book, I really like it and just love the dvd that came along with it. I bought mine off of amazon.ca for considerably less than the retail price and have been nothing but pleased with it every since.

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MissLaura on 3/26/2004 8:40:00 PM more reviews by MissLaura

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Awesome book and dvd! a must have and a great gift to give someone. it's not short either, the dvd is long and gives great great tips! covers all areas.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* cremebrulee on 1/3/2004 2:39:00 AM more reviews by cremebrulee

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This is very helpful to me. One thing it lacked tho, I wish she mentioned the foundation and other make-up colors she used from her MU line on the models. Would love to have known what foundation or powder shade Cindy, Anne, Sophie or Christy used.

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*TOP REVIEWER* trish527 on 12/12/2003 4:59:00 PM more reviews by trish527

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

This really inspired me to change my m.u. routine once in a while. I got some new ideas for eye makeup. In general, I love watching Sonia: she's got a good, down-to-earth philosophy and attitude. I'd especially recommend this for someone just learning to apply makeup or looking for inspiration.

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filipina on 7/8/2003 2:59:00 PM more reviews by filipina

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Oily   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is an excellent book! It's very informative (not only about makeup, but skin care, etc.) and I love the fact that she has pictures in there! Visuals, visuals! My mom and sister watched the DVD with me and they just loved it.

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